Remembering Nichelle Nichols (1932-2022)
“I said if they let me in the door I will open it so wide they will see the world.”
We are saddened by the recent loss of Nichelle Nichols (1932-2022). We knew her first as Nyota Uhura in Star Trek and its film sequels. We later learned of her remarkable work helping NASA to hire qualified candidates who were women and/or from minorities.
Much of her artistic career as an actress, singer, and dancer—and how she leveraged it to help NASA grow toward the example of Star Trek—is spelled out in the documentary Woman in Motion. In 1977, NASA struggled to recruit scientists, engineers and astronauts for their new Space Shuttle Program. That’s when Nichols challenged NASA by asking the question: “Where are my people?” and embarks on a four-month campaign to recruit the first Black, Latino and Asian men and women to fly in space.
Scroll down to watch the trailer for the documentary, which is now available in several streaming servces.